Paul Hollywood has been a judge on The Great British Bake Off since 2010, and his handshake has become an integral part of the show, with Hollywood stars talking about it
Paul Hollywood, the judge of Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off, is famous for his handshake, a gesture that has become a significant part of the show for both viewers and contestants. The handshake started as a way for Paul to express his appreciation for a contestant’s work.
On ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on Sunday, 29 December, Paul shared how much attention this gesture has received, even from Hollywood stars like Blake Lively, who is married to fellow actor and Wrexham FC owner Ryan Reynolds. Blake even mentioned the handshake on Instagram, but Paul described it as “a bit over the top”.
He told Alan: “For me it was just a ‘well done’. It’s excitement for me – I love baking and when I see something that I like it’s like ‘fantastic, you’ve done a really good job.’ People like the Hollywood stars, Blake Lively, who’s Ryan Reynold’s wife, was doing a bake on her Instagram cc’d me in and said ‘I hope Paul Hollywood likes this and I get a handshake’.”
He added: “So I sent an emoji of a handshake to her and she came back and repeated it and put it on her site and everyone was like ‘Paul Hollywood’s given you a a handshake’. I just find it all a bit over the top,” reports Wales Online.
Ahead of the second festive Bake Off special, which pays tribute to Hogmanay and will gather former Scottish contestants back in the tent, Paul shared his thoughts during Sunday morning’s programme. The special is set to air on Channel 4 on Friday, 3 January.
Paul expressed his delight at working with co-judge Prue Leith and also conveyed his admiration for former judge Mary Berry. Explaining the small difference in their dynamics, he said: “I’m very fond of the two Dames. I found them both unbelievable to work with, they taught me a lot as well and I just love spending time with them.
“The difference I suppose is I’d have a gin with Prue and a glass of white wine with Mary at the end of the day. How lucky am I to spend time with these people because they’re fantastic chefs and I have a lot of respect and time for them.”